Seahawks For The Win -- A comprehensive blog for the 12th Fan since 2010!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Hard Fought -- Seahawks 24 Jaguars 30

The better team lost on Sunday. For that matter, the better fan base lost on Sunday.

I know there are a lot of people on both sides upset, frustrated, disappointed, angry and embarrassed by what transpired in the final moments of Sunday's loss to the Jaguars. I understand why you would feel that way, just having witnessed the opportunity for victory slip from the hands of the team you worship.

The blame for the transgressions of the last few plays rests solely with one group.

No-- it's not Michael Bennett, no matter how badly some 'fans' would love to vilify him as the everything that is wrong with the Seahawks. All Bennett is guilty of is playing the game of football for a full 60 minutes.

It's not even Sheldon Richardson or Quinton Jefferson who let their emotions get the better of them at the end of the game.

The fights, the penalties, the awful behavior of the fans can be squarely placed on this officiating group.

Jacksonville, its players, coaches and fan base, are about as familiar with success as fish are with the concept of aviation. Winning is completely and utterly foreign to them. There is no question that they are a good team right now with a spectacularly talented defense and a powerful rushing attack. However, it was evident very early in the game that this was their Super Bowl and because of that, their players were unnecessarily chippy.

There were no less than 4 plays in the first half of the game where Jacksonville players more than

warranted a late hit or a taunting penalty. There were a number of plays throughout the game where pass interference probably should've been called-- but these officials, for whatever reason, opted to 'let 'em play'.
Football is a game of extreme emotion. When you let that kind of shit persist-- you're inviting fights like we saw at the end of this match.

Moose Johnson and Chris Meyers did fans a tremendous disservice. Not just by virtue of calling the game, but by insinuating that Michael Bennett's actions were motivated by spite or poor-sportsmanship and ultimately suggesting that he's unworthy of his Man of the Year nomination.

The only thing Michael Bennett is guilty of is never giving up. There was still 51 seconds on the clock and the Seahawks had a timeout. When the Jaguars were in victory formation, Bennett tried to 'intercept' the snap by shooting low through the A gap. I will never be upset with a player going 100% until the game is over.

Seattle overcame costly, early-game mistakes to find themselves a touchdown away from victory. A victory Seattle surely would have saw if only the officiating crew had seen the most blatant defensive holding penalty executed this season.

Once again, most of the obstacles Seattle faced were by their own creation. As the offense continues to improve, our defense continually falls victim to attrition. Its no coincidence that Jacksonville scored 27 of their 30 points after Bobby Wagner left with injury.

In spite of a loss that undoubtedly left the team and fans emotionally exhausted, I feel good about the direction this team is heading. Seattle faces an equally banged up Rams team, that they already defeated earlier in the season, at home with the division title on the line. We have to hope that we start getting some guys back from injury soon, but the offense is rallying behind Wilson-- and I've always said that this team goes as far as Wilson will take them.